 | “The youth’s wisdom is truly as clear as clean mirror. No matter what we teach them, they follow and take it into their hearts.” -Master Cheng Yen, Founder of Tzu Chi Foundation
May 22-23, 2010. With the hope of molding the pure minds and hearts of the youth, Tzu Chi Foundation, Philippines held its first ever Filipino Tzu Chi Youth Still Thoughts Life Camp attended by 332 participants with ages 12 to 25 from Marikina City and Quezon City at the foundation’s two offices, the Tzu Chi Great Love Campus (TCGLC) and Still Thoughts Hall.
This camp followed the onset of the almost bi-monthly Filipino Volunteers’ Training Camp from November 2009 to April 2010 for residents of Quezon and Marikina cities who want to become local volunteers of Tzu Chi Foundation. A profound affinity bloomed between Tzu Chi and these communities after the former provided them immediate relief when struck by a calamity.
With the efforts of more than 200 certified Tzu Chi volunteers, Tzu Chi Youth, local volunteers from Marikina and staff, the Filipino Tzu Chi Youth Still Thoughts Life Camp was successfully concluded after almost a month of preparation.
Cheerful arrival
After the registration of participants in the first camp venue in Tzu Chi Great Love Campus (TCGLC) in Sta. Mesa, Manila, a warm welcome greeting given by Tzu Chi Philippines Chief Executive Office Alfredo Li signalled the start of the camp.
At the first session, a Tzu Chi volunteer discussed humans’ disrespect to Mother Nature and our Earth by showing a series of video clips tacking the issue. The participants became aware of the root causes of each calamity that had been taking place which particularly brings to mind the September 2009 tragedy brought by Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) that affected most of the participants.
To prevent calamities brought by natural phenomena like Typhoon Ondoy, the Tzu Chi volunteers encouraged them to start conserving and protecting Mother Earth and our Nature by doing recycling.
To shape the participants in having good manners and upright character, Tzu Chi volunteers discussed the proper behavior and right conduct of a Tzu Chi member by teaching the Tzu Chi etiquette in walking, sitting, standing, and even the proper position of lying down to sleep.
As lunch time was nearing, a Tzu Chi volunteer showed the participants the proper way of using bowls and chopsticks, one of the many customs in Tzu Chi. The participants practised what they have learned during lunchtime where vegetarian dishes were served.
Tzu Chi volunteers explained that cooking vegetarian meals and being a vegetarian is part of the Tzu Chi culture which the Tzu Chi volunteers explained is in line with the important teaching of Buddhism of eliminating desires and preventing taking the lives of animals. This is also one of the efforts of Tzu Chi Foundation in lessening the emission of carbon dioxide and methane gas; and also to conserve resources and protect the environment.
After watching the video clips about killing farm animals like chickens, pigs and cows for human consumption, 17-year-old Maritoni Mabalhin of Barangay Nangka was inspired to do one act of change.
“I am not fond of eating vegetables. When I saw how they (farmed animals) are beign slaughtered to provide food for humans, I pitied them because if we think hard enough, they are like brothers and sisters to us. From now on, I will lessen my meat intake and will eat more vegetables,” Mabalhin said.
Experiencing suffering; realizing, cherishing and creating blessings
Afer the sign language class, a session conducted by Tzu Chi Publication Team ensued, which aimed to open the eyes of the Filipino youth participants about their invaluable blessings.
To make the youth realize their blessings, the staff prepared a simple activity where each participant received a small card and and a one-centimeter pencil lead which they used to write down five blessings that they have using a one-centimeter pencil.
Aside from realizing their blessings through this activity, they also felt the hardship of an impoverished student in Taiwan who truly conserves the little blessing she has by using a one-centimeter pencil lead everyday to write lectures in school. Moreover, each one was reminded to be thankful that they could still go to school despite coming from a family with a modest financial means.
As the participants have come to realize their blessings, the staff asked the youth for a moment of prayer, followed by an invitation to each one to share their blessings to others in need by giving donations to the Tzu Chi coin cans and help out in the foundation’s Educational Assistance Program for the needy but deserving students, who mostly are from Marikina.
In the next session, the youth participants were divided into six groups that toured six stations: the medical clinic, recycling center, vegetarian cooking, handicraft, tug-of-war and water relay game and picture-taking.
One thing in life that cannot wait
“True filial piety is not only providing material comfort but also showing respect and obedience to our parents.”—Still Thoughts from Master Cheng Yen
While listening to the sharings of Filipino volunteers and staff about showing love to their own parents, most of the youth participants seemed to have realized their faults and shortcomings towards their parents that is why they could not help but become emotional.
“I realized that they (parents) are sacrificing a lot for my studies. Now, I would like to thank them because no matter what happened and in spite of all the faults I made, I still feel their love for me. They are also volunteers of the foundation and, as a way to repay all the things they did for me, I will help in giving love to others,” a tough-looking 20-year-old Paul Denesee Granada said as he tried to hold back his tears.
As night time approached, each of the 36 groups of local Tzu Chi youth gathered outside in the campus quadrangle where tables and chairs were prepared. With the guidance of the group mommies and Chinese Tzu Chi volunteers, each of the participants shared their life experiences and relationship with their parents.
A new day, a new reflection
On May 23, while the sun was slowly rising in the sky, around 450 youth participants, Tzu Chi volunteers, Tzu Chi Youth, local volunteers and staff had already gathered for the walkathon from the TCGLC in Manila heading to the place that serves as spiritual haven of Tzu Chi Philippines, the Still Thoughts Hall in Quezon City.
The walkathon, which started at 6:30 a.m., aims to reduce carbon emissions that are destructive to the earth’s ozone layer; serve as morning exercise for the camp participants; and give each one of the participant a chance to reflect on their lives.
At the start of the new session held at the auditorium of Still Thoughts Hall, the participants learned about the founder of Tzu Chi Foundation, the venerable Master Cheng Yen, a great and wise teacher for all Tzu Chi volunteers.
With its great wish to leave a mark about the duties of youth in the hearts of the young participants, another Tzu Chi volunteer explained the kind of sacrifice that a Bodhisattva commits for Buddhism.
After an hour of lunch break, the latter part of the Filipino Youth Camp began with a walking meditation, where the participants walked slowly in harmony of a calming Buddhist chant.
Before the camp fully came to close, 18 participants of the camp took center stage to share with the audience their learning and vows.
Nineteen-year-old Camille Tayab was the second youth to share the insights she gained from the camp. Tayab was moved to tears while sharing her thoughts about cruelty to animals, later making a pledge to become vegetarian for one year.
One of the most poignant stories shared by a participant was that of Haseena Mahilom of Barangay Malanday. At the age of 19, Mahilom is yet to graduate elementary school this year.
Coming from a broken family, Mahilom has not seen her African-American father since birth, while her mother now lives in Mindanao. Mahilom is left under the care of her relatives who do not show care and support for her. As she grew up, Mahilom strived to send herself to school by working as a laundry girl to support a year’s schooling.
“I really want to finish school and have a job. Even though they (relatives) are belittling me, I still want to help them. Education is very important because it is the only treasure in life that can’t be taken away,” Mahilom said.
To support her studies, Tzu Chi has included Mahilom under its Educational Assistance Program, along with over 700 needy and deserving students from Marikina City and other areas in Metro Manila.
Despite her neediness, Mahilom still made donations at the Tzu Chi coin cans in a past session. “I gave donation not because I got a scholarship grant from the foundation but it was to help others like me who dream of finishing school,” said Mahilom.
Mahilom also encouraged her fellow Filipino Youth to study hard to repay their parents’ sacrifices to support their schooling saying, “Let us prove that we are indeed the hope of society.”
To show gratitude to the participants of the camp, Tzu Chi volunteers gave each of them a book authored by Master Cheng Yen titled Jing Si Aphorisms (Volume Three) to serve as guide in living their lives. In addition, volunteers gave each one a Tzu Chi coin can so the youth can collect coins of love each day to help the suffering of people.
The Filipino Tzu Chi Youth Still Thoughts Life Camp concluded through a sincere prayer headed by Tzu Chi volunteers. They prayed that the camp may serve as an inspiration for each young participant to purify their minds and hearts. The volunteers also wished that this camp may open the hearts of everyone to compassion by praying that the suffering of people who befell victims to different calamities around the world may be alleviated. |